Consumers are feeling somewhat more upbeat about current economic conditions, according to a holiday sales forecast by Wells Fargo & Co. And several surveys conducted over the weekend indicate that Americans spent more than last year online and in stores during Black Friday and Small Business Saturday.

Maria Irving of Urbandale runs a business in a former Windsor Heights car shop that offers translations and interpretations in 50 languages. Her husband, Robert Irving, runs a construction business in the same building.

Maybe it's a matter of not having the opportunity to avoid it, but a survey released by the National Federation of Independent Businesses and American Express has found that more consumers than ever are aware of Small Business Saturday.

The U.S. Small Business Administration and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. have enhanced Money Smart for Small Business, a resource that provides practical guidance for starting and managing a small business.

The Downtown Winter Farmers' Market, presented by UnityPoint Health-Des Moines, will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Capital Square and Kaleidoscope at the Hub, with a repeat engagement Dec. 16-17.